Charles a



. (No Model.)

0.' A. BEHLBN VEHICLE SPRING. No. 307,000. Patented 0st. 21, 1884.

UNITED STATES ATEN'I Orricn.

CHARLES A. BEI-ILEN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE MOERLEIN, OF SAME PLACE.

VEHICLE-SPRING.

.ISPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 307,000, dated October 21, 1884.

Application filed June 26, 1884. (No model.)

T to whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. BnnLnn, a citizen of the United States, residingin Oin cinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Springs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in what are known as ellipticsprings, for use on vehicles; and it consists in the arrange ment of the parts, substantially as shown and hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvedspring attached to the side bars of a buggy, and represents the spring constructed in parts, each part being bolted or riveted together, so as to form the whole. Fig. 2 is a front view showing the spring attached to the spring-bar of the vehicle, and is amodification of the spring shown in Fig. 1, in that it is bent completein one piece instead of being constructed in. sections and then put together. Fig. 3 is aview of the spring similar to that in Fig. 2, and is a modification of those shown in Figs."1 and 2, in that the spring is constructed in two parts and in sections, so that when attached to the.

bolster or side bars of the vehicle the same functions will be performed in substantially the same way as will be performed by the springs shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A, Fig. 1, is an ordinary elliptic spring, having its lower leaf divided and provided with branches B (3. By means of these branches the spring is attached to the side bars E of the vehicle V' by the ordinary shackles, S, and clip IV, as shown or when side bars are not used it may be fastened to the ordinary bolster and the rear axle. The division of the bottom leaf of the spring enables it to be mounted upon its bearings, so as to fit between and clear the perch and hang the body of the vehicle either high or low, as desired. This is one of the especial features of my spring, as it overcomes the great disadvantage in this respect heretofore experienced by carriage and wagon makers.

T represents the ordinary spring-bar. \Vhen action is imparted to the spring, in-

and 2, and the strain communicated to those branches at their points of connection to the side bars. Any rebound which follows will be taken up and cushioned by the'upper leaf, 3.

Instead of constructing the spring in sec tions and then bolting or riveting them together, as seen in Fig. 1, I may form it out of one complete piece of metal, as seen in Fig.

2; or instead of having one spring, as shown, in Figs. 1 and 2, I may construct the port-ions 6 5 so as to form a half-spring, which, when attached to the vehicle in the ordinary way, as seen in Fig. 3, practically forms a springsueh as is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. This latter method of construction is very useful, as in case one of the parts becomes damaged it can be removed and replaced by a new piece without disturbing the other portions.

Instead of having the leaf 3 curved, as shown, it may be perfectly straight, and the same results accomplished.

The spring can be made heavy or light, as the case might be, by adding more leaves, so as to conform to the size of vehicle and the weight it is designed to carry. I thus provide a spring which is cheap, strong, and durable, and one which will not detract from the finish of the vehicle, besides furnishing an easy and graceful motion that is not attained by any of the springs now in the market.

Having thus described my invention, what v I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An elliptic spring having its lower leaf or leaves extending inward toward each other, but separated at their inner ends a distance sufficient to permit the perch of avehicle to pass between them when in action, substantially as set forth. 5

2. A vehicle-spring consisting of an upper leaf or member, 3, inwardly-extending leaves or members 1 and 2, and outwardly-extending branches 13 O, for attachment to a side bar or other part of a vehicle, the inner ends 01' the leaves or members 1 and 2 being separated from each other, substantially as and for the 5 purpose set forth.

3. The herein-described spring, consisting of upperleal, 3,inwardly-turned leaves 1 and 

